PLANNING chiefs overturned four planning regulations in order to push through plans for more gipsy sites in Mole Valley this week.

Members of Mole Valley District Council’s (MVDC) development control committee met on Tuesday to discuss plans for additional pitches on green belt land at Travellers Rest in Cowslip Lane, Mickleham; Conifer Park in Ranmore Road, Dorking, and Brambledown Park Caravan Site in Coldharbour Lane, Dorking.

The plans, submitted by MVDC, faced fierce opposition from neighbouring residents, parish councillors and organisations including Surrey Wildlife Trust, Mole Valley Cycling Forum, and Dorking Allotment Holders’ Association (DAHA) during the consultation stage. In a letter objecting to the new pitch at Brambledown Park Caravan Site, which borders Coldharbour Lane allotments, DAHA chairman, Jon Mabbott, expressed concerns over the loss of allotment land in Mole Valley.

He said: “Take up of [allotment] plots at Coldharbour Lane is increasing by the week and indications are that this will continue. There are already waiting lists at Bentsbrook, Pixham and St Paul’s allotments in Dorking. It is therefore wrong to take this statutory allotment land for other purposes.”

Other issues raised concerning all three sites included access problems, an increase in levels of rubbish and noise and a detrimental impact on the green belt.

However, MVDC planning officers recommended committee members give the plans the go-ahead because there was an immediate need for additional gipsy pitches within the district which overrides any harm caused to the openness of the green belt.

Mole Valley has been heavily criticised for ignoring its growing need for gipsy and traveller sites over the past 30 years and has been told by the Government it must provide nine more pitches by 2011.

However, at the meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Stephen Cooksey (Lib Dem) said he did not feel a decision to agree the plans was justified because it would go against the council’s own planning regulations.

He said: “My concern is just how many of our own rules are we prepared to overturn in order to meet the proposals which come before us?

“How many times have we overturned planning protocol on a private application?

“We are overturning our rules with regard to the green belt, areas of outstanding natural beauty and the size of the site.”

The proposal for Brambledown Park Caravan Site was also not in accordance with council policy because it would mean the loss of allotment land.

However, the council agreed to go along with the officers’ recommendation and agreed the plans.

Cllr Chris Townsend (Ind) said: “If we defer this decision we may get to the situation where we know we are low on sites and Government may come in and tell us where to put them.”

Cllr Townsend continued: “We have to look at the facts. We are short on sites and I think we have to go down this route otherwise we’ll have it forced upon us and like it even less.”